London has been battered by 50mph winds that have felled trees and caused travel chaos. Powerful gusts swept across the capital as the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather alert for most of the country.

Nigel Farage ducked the chance to become an MP within weeks today by ruling himself out of a by-election.

The Ukip leader admitted that he was nervous that a personal defeat in the safe Conservative seat of Newark would have meant Ukip’s “bubble would be burst”.

But he faced gleeful taunts from rivals that he had “bottled it” after allowing speculation to run riot for over 12 hours that he might grab the opportunity of a parliamentary seat after disgraced Tory Patrick Mercer resigned over sleaze charges.

“I’m a fighter, I’m a warrior, but you have to pick your battles in life,” said Mr Farage. Speaking on a campaign stop in Bath, he presented it as a cool-headed decision to avoid distractions during next month’s crucial European Parliament elections.

“I want to focus the next three weeks on winning the European elections,” he insisted. His lack of local links with the East Midlands region was another key factor.

A new poll today said Ukip will come first in the European elections. TSN research put them up seven points on 36 per cent, with Labour pushed into second on 27 and the Tories squeezed to a poor third place on just 18.

With a safe Conservative majority of 16,152, Newark is a tough nut for Ukip to crack. Former Conservative chancellor Ken Clarke commented: “Whatever else Nigel is, he is not an idiot and I don’t think he’d have the faintest chance of winning in Newark.”

Rivals mocked Mr Farage for claiming he only had “12 hours” to decide whether to stand or not. The possibility of Mr Mercer, who faced a six-month ban, stepping down has been canvassed among MPs for months.

A Ukip source said that in reality Mr Farage ruled out standing “quickly last night” but could not resist making front page headlines in papers including the Times and Telegraph by pretending to be mulling overnight. “Nigel does like to tease the media,” said the source.

Mr Farage will stand in the general election, possibly in the Kent seaside town of Thanet East where Ukip is stronger on the ground.

“I think I have shown some courage over the years,” he said. “I have helped take this party from nothing.”

Mr Mercer quit ahead of a report confirming he tabled Commons questions and offered a Westminster security pass after signing a £4,000 deal. He said last night: “I’m ashamed of it.”